Wednesday, January 18, 2012

"French Impressions" Impresses

Good chamber music is a conversation – and French Impressions is just
that. A conversation between two old friends enjoying themselves. It’s
no accident that both violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Jeremy Denk get
equal billing. In the three works presented both artists contribute
equally to the performance.

The album beings with Camille Saint-Saens' Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano,
completed in 1885. It's the most formally constructed of the three
works on the CD, but there’s nothing stuffy about it. Bell and Denk play
the work with a light touch and real animation. They also don’t mind
slightly lingering over the beautiful harmonies, calling the listener’s
attention to the sumptuous sound.

Speaking of sumptuous, the Cesar Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major
is even more so. Bell and Denk make a compelling case for this
often-recorded work, and provide a fresh take on this familiar music.

Maurice Ravel incorporated some American blues into his 1922 Sonata for Violin and Piano.
Many performers approach the movement from a classical tradition, and
downplay the music’s inspiration. Not so Bell and Denk. They relish the
jazz elements, and play them with such elan that the movement positively
swings.

Although stylistically diverse, the three sonatas make a cohesive and
interesting program thanks to Bell and Denk. It’s difficult to put into
words, but they bring out the inherent Frenchness of these compositions.

I never really thought much about these sonatas before. I mean, they
were OK, but not especially engaging personally. Joshua Bell and Jeremy
Denk have changed my mind, giving me a new appreciation for these
compositions.That's impressive.